Igneous Drake

Igneous Drake of House Flambeau was trained in the Stonehenge Tribunal. He came to Hibernia around 1210, seeking a worthy challenge for his mastery of fire-magic. He joined the Siege of Praesis and spent a year there, teaching spells to the English magi and gleefully joining in what battles he could find. Igneous got his surname when, as a relatively young magus, he succeeded in binding a fire-breathing drake as a familiar. He wields a simple staff as a talisman and has trained one apprentice, back in Stonehenge. Igneous now lives at the covenant of Elk's Run, where he has a whole tower to himself. His eagerness for battle is famous; he repels macgnimartha raiders with lethal force and has even gone out to hunt down hedge wizards who have strayed out of Connacht. He has a spell which creates a wall of fire around the entire covenant; he uses this to trap raiders when they attack, then hunt them down before they can escape.

At the tribunal meeting of 1221, the Coill Tri initially charged him with the unlawful murder of three of these hedge magicians, but the Coill Tri backed down, preferring to accept the deaths than to invite the Order to pry into their affairs. When Cernunnos Ex Miscellanea stood up to defend the hedge magicians and get a confession out of Igneous, the Flambeau responded by casually declaring Wizard's War upon him. Igneous is bored killing apprentices and hedge wizards. Only a Gauntleted magus of the Order can really challenge him, and he believes there is no effective law or order in Hibernia, so he can do as he pleases.

Igneous is unusually old for a Hermetic magus; either his Longevity Ritual is very poor or there is some other force at work. He is 87, but looks to be in his 70s. He wears robes of red, orange and gold and bears no weapon other than his staff. Igneous's familiar, Volcanis, is about the size of a lion, with bronze scales harder than steel and impressive bat-like wings, a long neck, sharp claws on his forelimbs, strong back legs, and a tail like a crocodile.

Igneous Drake of Flambeau

Igneous Drake is a stereotypical Flambeau from the Stonehenge Tribunal. Born in 1134, his immunity to flame brought him to the attention of Hermetic talent scouts and he was apprenticed at the age of ten. He secured his talisman, a simply hickory staff, soon after his Gauntlet. Igneous loves the thrill of fighting and always has, embracing his facility with fire magic to become an aggressive duelist, slayer of monsters, and proponent of Wizard's War. This quickly made him disliked in Stonehenge and he was forced to make his own longevity ritual, which he discovered had little effect upon him. This was when Igneous first stared death in the face; he realized that, no matter how strong or deadly he became, he would die before other magi from crippling old age. He became an uncaring man, a man who disregarded the needs and desires of others, and even moral convention. After all, time had already played its joke on him. What more could the Order do?

Igneous secured his reputation in his House when he successfully bound Volcanis, a fire drake, as his familiar. With Volcanis at his side, ready to murder any foe who was immune to Igneous's fire magic, he became both unbeatable and insufferable. After a period of study to bring the rest of his Arts up to basic standards, he trained an apprentice to be as violent as he.

But about ten years ago, Igneous began looking to the horizon. He had heard that English magi in Hibernia were under attack from Irish magi and hedge wizards. Astride Volcanis, he traveled to Hibernia and joined the covenant of Elk's Run. Oswald, busy with his books, was happy to have him and has paid little attention to him. When Ballack of Tytalus came to conduct the Siege of Praesis, Igneous joined him and spent a year teaching his arsenal of fire spells to English magi. He has since returned to Elk's Run, spent considerable time customizing his laboratory, reforged his bond with Volcanis, and added additional effects to his talisman. Throughout these years, Igneous has become increasingly aggressive, chasing apprentices on their macgnimartha raids and attacking hedge magicians who stray outside of Connacht. He believes the law is simply not enforced in Hibernia, and he can do whatever he wants. What he wants is a challenge, and he'll do anything to get it. His latest escalation is to declare Wizard's War on Cernunnos Ex Miscellanea, a newly gauntleted magus of Cor Draconis. He hopes the lad proves more interesting than hedge wizards and apprentices.

Igneous's command of fire magic is awe-inspiring. He has mastered both Pilum of Fire and Ball of Abyssal Flame, invented original spells of the tenth magnitude, and has a casting total sufficient to penetrate any Magic Resistance. His talisman defends him from both metal and wooden weapons. In an emergency, he can explode with the fury of a phoenix, slaying everyone nearby (and burning up his own clothes and other possessions). He and Volcanis can communicate mentally and see in the dark by observing the heat given off by living things.

Age 88 (apparent age 73; hermetic age 63; aging rolls at net -1 [+9 age, -4 longevity ritual, -4 for Bronze Cord, -2 living conditions])

Int +2, Per +1 (1), Pre -1 (1), Com -2 (2), Str -2 (1), Sta +2, Dex -1 (1), Qik +1 (1)

Siz 0

Decrepitude 1 (9)

Warping Score 6 (21)

Confidence Score 2 (6)

Virtues The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Greater Immunity (fire), Major Magical Focus (flames), Affinity with Creo, Affinity with Ignem, Life Boost, Puissant Ignem

Flaws Enemies (Irish magi), Difficult Longevity Ritual, Sensitive (xenophobic), Wrathful (major)

Personality Traits Violent +3, Xenophobic +2, Joyful +1

Combat

Evasion Init +1, Def +5

Soak +9 plus form bonus (Sta 2, Bronze Cord 4, Robes 3)

Fatigue Levels OK, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious

Wound Penalties -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+)

Abilities Artes Liberales 2 (rhetoric), Athletics 3 (running), Awareness 3 (in combat), Brawl 3 (dodging), Concentration 6 (spells), English 5 (insults), Finesse 6 (Ignem), Folk Ken 1 (people in authority over him), Guile 3 (claiming not to have done something), Hibernia Lore 2 (hiding places), Order of Hermes Lore 2 (House Flambeau), Latin 4 (insults), Leadership 4 (Grogs), Magic Theory 7 (Ignem), Parma Magica 7 (Mentem), Penetration 4 (Ignem), Philosophiae 2 (natural), Stealth 3 (ambush), Stonehenge Lore 2 (hiding places), Survival 1 (woods), Teaching 3 (apprentice)

Arts Cr 30 (310 + Affinity), In 5, Mu 5, Pe 7, Re 13; An 5, Aq 5, Au 5, Co 5, He 5, Ig 30+3 (310 + Affinity), Im 5, Me 5, Te 6, Vi 5

Equipment Robes enchanted with Doublet of Impenetrable Silk (MuAn 14, T: Self, D: Sun, 2 charges/day, environmental trigger, constant effect) purchased with vis. 15 pawns of Ignem vis in the form of ash.

Lab Total Te + Fo + 16 + 15 if Ignem

Spells Known

• Bind Wound +37 (CrCo 10)

• Purification of the Festering Wounds +37 (CrCo 20)

• Cheating the Reaper +37 (CrCo 30)

• Wall of Living Wood +42T (CrHe 25) Mastery 2 (Fast-Cast, Multiple Casting)

• Palm of Flame +99TF (CrIg 5)

• Heat of the Searing Forge +69T (CrIg 10)

• Blade of the Virulent Flame +99TF (CrIg 15)

• Flash of the Scarlet Flames +99TF (CrIg 15)

• Pilum of Fire +101TF (CrIg 20), Mastery 2 (Multiple Casting, Penetration)

• Arc of Fiery Ribbons +100TF (CrIg 25) Mastery 1 (Fast-Cast)

• Coat of Flame +99TF (Cr[Re]Ig 25)

• Ball of Abyssal Flame +102TF (CrIg 35), Mastery 3 (Fast-Cast, Multiple Casting, Penetration)

• Circle of Encompassing Flame +99TF (CrIg 35)

• Melt the Foolish Blade +70T (CrIg 35), Mastery 1 (Fast-Cast)

• Last Flight of the Phoenix +100TF (CrIg 50) Mastery 1 (Fast-Cast) (HoH:S 51; +45 damage)

• Wall of Fiery Doom +99TF (CrIg 50)

• Hornet Fire +49TF (MuIg 10)

• Prison of Flames +49TF (MuIg 20)

• Soothe the Raging Flames +53TF (PeIg 20)

• Quench the Raging Conflagration +53TF (PeIg 20) (HoH:S 37)

• Leap of the Fire +65TF (ReIg 10)

• The Obedient Fire +65TF (ReIg 20) (HoH:S 37)

• Burst of the Sweeping Flames +65TF (ReIg 25)

• Ward Against Heat and Flames +65TF (ReIg 25)

• Haunt of the Living Ghost +37 (CrIm 35)

Igneous's Unique Spells

Melt the Foolish Blade (CrIg 35)

R Touch, D Concentration T Individual

This spell, designed to be fast-cast as a defense, melts all steel weapons that come into contact with the caster. The damage is +30. Igneous has little need to cast this spell anymore, since he enchanted a similar effect into his talisman.

Base 25, +1 Touch, +1 Concentration

Wall of Fiery Doom (CrIg 50)

R Sight, D Sun, T Ind

This spell creates a wall of flame three thousand feet long which forms a circle with a diameter of about a thousand feet. The flame inflicts +20 damage on all who cross it. Igneous uses this spell to trap macgnimartha and other raiders inside the covenant boundary, casting it from atop his tower and then tracking the invaders down and killing them. The length of the wall is calculated on the assumption that a 30 foot length of wall is the base effect (see Circle of Encompassing Flames), with +2 magnitudes for x100 length.

Base 15, +2 Sun, +3 Sight, +2 for size of the wall

Staff of the Drake

Igneous's talisman is a hickory staff carved in the shape of a dragon that he has had since he was a newly-Gauntleted magus. Over his life, he has spent three seasons opening it for a total of 30 pawns of space, 24 of which are currently full.

Casting Bonuses

• +4 Ignem

• +4 to control things at a distance

• +4 to destroy things at a distance

• +3 to project a bolt or other missile

• +3 to affect living wood

• +2 to repel things

Enchanted Effects

Ingeous's staff is enchanted with the following effects:

Shriek of the Impending Shafts

InHe 16

Pen +0, 2x/day, item maintains concentration

R: Per, D: Conc T: Hearing

With the above exceptions, this effect functions as the spell Shriek of the Impending Shafts (ArM5, page 136). The effect fills 2 pawns of space in the staff.

(Effect: Base 2, +1 Concentration, +3 Hearing; Modifications +5 levels item maintains concentration, +1 level 2 uses per day)

Howl of Thirsty Steel

InTe 16

Similar to Shriek of the Impending Shafts, this effect detects incoming attacks by metal weapons. The effect fills 2 pawns of space in the staff.

Defense of the Roaring Furnace

CrIg 48

Pen +0, unlimited uses, item maintains concentration

R: Special D: Conc T: Ind

Defense of the Roaring Furnace burns any fast-moving wooden item that comes within a pace of the holder of Igneous's talisman with a blast of fire sufficiently intense to reduce arrows to ash and weaken pole arms to the point of snapping. Only wooden objects that are moving sufficiently fast to cause a person harm are targeted by this effect. The fires produced by this effect do +20 damage. The talisman will never target itself with this effect. This effect fills 5 pawns of space in the staff. Igneous got the idea for this effect from Ranulf of Flambeau.

(Effect: Base 15, +1 Concentration, +2 Voice equivalent non-standard; Modifications +10 levels unlimited uses, +3 levels linked trigger (Shriek of Impending Shafts), +5 item maintains concentration)

Defense of Vulcan's Forge

CrIg 58

Pen +0, unlimited uses, item maintains concentration

R: Special D: Conc T: Ind

Defense of Vulcan's Forge melts any fast-moving metal item that comes within a pace of the holder of Igneous's talisman with a blast of heat sufficiently intense to reduce steel to melted slag. Only metal objects moving fast enough to cause a person harm are targeted by this effect. The heat does +30 damage. This effect fills 6 pawns of space in the staff.

(Effect: Base 25, +1 Concentration, +2 Voice equivalent non-standard; Modifications +10 levels unlimited uses, +3 levels linked trigger (Howl of Thirsty Steel), +5 item maintains concentration)

Unburnable

ReIg 54

Igneous's staff is unaffected by fires with damage up to +45. Thus, it is unharmed when he explodes with Last Flight of the Phoenix. By extension, this effect would also protect Igneous from external attacks, but his Greater Immunity makes that function of the staff irrelevant. This effect fills 6 pawns in the staff.

B 4, R Pers, +2 Sun, +8 for up to +45 damage, +4 levels for environmental trigger and constant effect)

Volcanis the Drake

Magical Might 20 (Ignem)

Season Summer

Siz +2

Int 0, Per +1, Pre +2, Com -1, Str +5, Sta +3, Dex +2, Qik +0

Virtues Magic Animal (0); Enduring Constitution (+1), Greater Immunity (Fire +3), Improved Characteristics (+3)

Flaws Magical Monster (-3); Essential Flaw (Avaricious, Major -3), Offensive to Animals (-1)

Magic Qualities Gift of Speech (+1), Greater Power (+3), Increased Might x2 (+2), Puissant Brawl (+1), Improved Attack x3 (+3), Improved Defense x3 (+3), Improved Fatigue x3 (+3), Improved Soak x4 (+4), Tough (+1); Susceptible to Deprivation (-1)

Abilities Athletics 5 (fly), Brawl 8 (claws), English 5 (insults), Hibernia Lore 2 (hiding places), Hunt 5 (prey), Latin 4 (insults), Magic Lore 3 (dragons), Magic Theory 4 (Ignem), Stealth 3 (ambush), Stonehenge Lore 3 (hiding places), Survival 5 (mountains)

Fiery Breath (6 Might, Init): Volcanis can inhale and release a deadly stream of fire about five feet across and sixty feet long. It is directed at a single target, who takes +30 damage. However, secondary targets caught in the stream need to make a Difficulty 9 Qik + Athletics test or be hit for +10 damage. CrIg 40. -2 Might Cost, No Penetration.

Combat

Large Claws Init 0, Atk +22, Dfn +18, Dam +9 (exert for +9)

Large Teeth Init 0, Atk +14, Dfn +9, Dam +8

Soak +18 (Sta 3 + Tough 3 + Improved Soak 8 + Bronze Cord 4)

Fatigue OK, 0, 0, 0, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious

Wound Levels Light (1-7), Moderate (8-14), Heavy (9-21), Incapacitated (22-28), Dead (29+)

Volcanis is a fire-breathing drake the size of a horse. His body is muscular and lithe, more like a lion in its shape but covered in gleaming bronze scales stronger than steel and with impressive bat-like wings. He has a long neck, almost human forelimbs ending in long, sharp, claws, massive rear legs, and a tail like a crocodile.

His familiar bond is level 80, with Gold Cord +2, Silver Cord +2, and Bronze Cord +4. The bond is further enchanted with complex two-way mental communication (so Volcanis and Igneous can send images and emotions) and with an effect that duplicates Vision of the Heat's Light (InIg 20, D Sun, 2 charges) allowing both of them to see heat and thus fight and navigate in darkness.

Igneous is accompanied by a small group of mounted men. One is a Tough Guy shield grog. One is a Grizzled Veteran sergeant, and three are Standard Soldiers. The soldiers and the veteran fight as a trained group, with a soldier as vanguard. The five horses, all rouncies, are immune to the Gift, in order to travel safely with both Igneous and Volcanis. If necessary, Igneous can take charge of the entire group, using his own Leadership.

Igneous Drake's Lab

Igneous has an entire tower at Elk's Run to himself, but he only uses the top few floors. His lab occupies an entire floor, so is slightly larger than the standard lab. It is lined with multiple enchanted fireplaces which light and die on command. They surround a central firepit and forge, and a hundred candles are mounted on the walls, leaving paths for Volcanis to walk. One quarter of the lab is set aside for Volcanis to make his den; this includes a large window ledge upon which he can land and a mound of his personal wealth. The lab is highly specialized for Ignem; anyone attempting to work with another Art would find all the candles and hearths to be highly distracting.

Size +1, Refinement +2, General Quality +1, Health +1, Aesthetics +9, Upkeep +7, Safety +2

Virtues (+8) Dedicated Building (0), Elevated (0), Familiar (+1), Greater Expansion (+3), Greater Feature (Fireplace +3), Highly Organized (0), Lesser Feature (Forge +1), Magical Heating (0), Magical Lighting (0), Superior Construction (0), Superior Equipment (0)

Flaws (-5) Greater Focus (-3), Lesser Focus (-1), Missing Ingredients (Aquam and Terram, -1)

Specializations Auram +1, Ignem +13, Imaginem +1, Rego +1, Texts +1, Vis Extraction +1

Igneous Drake in Combat

• Igneous doesn't care if he fails Initiative because his offensive and defensive spells can all be Fast-Cast. If beaten in Initiative by someone wielding a metal or wooden weapon, or any weapon his shield grog can defend against, he trusts in his defenses. Otherwise (targeted with a spell, or if caught without his shield grog or Volcanis), he tries to Fast-Cast Ball of Abyssal Flame. He is +10 on this roll, can spend up to 2 Confidence, and has to beat the target's Initiative.

• He can throw 4 BoAF with a casting total of +98 and Penetration 71. Each does +30 damage.

• Once he begins Fast-Casting, he is -6 to do so again but can again use Confidence, casting three Walls of Living Wood to place a triangle fort around himself 60' on a side, 15 feet high, scaled with a Diff 9 Athletics. He can also throw more BoAF.

• Igneous's first line of defense is his shield grog, who intercepts all attacks which must be aimed.

• Igneous has at least a +14 defense total against archers thanks to Shriek of the Impending Shafts, and automatically avoids archery from farther than 10 yards. Arrows and other wooden weapons are destroyed by his Talisman. For this reason, he is usually content keeping range.

• His Talisman destroys any wooden or metal weapons which target him. Only by disrupting the Talisman, breaking it, or stripping it from him can this effect be stopped.

• Attacks that do not need to be aimed, and thus which are not intercepted by his shield grog, must get past his Magic Resistance of 35 + Form (+5 Mentem). Disarm the Warrior and Crystal Dart are both likely examples of this.

• If actually hit, his Soak is 9 + 1/5 his relevant Form bonus.

• Igneous has no escape spells; his weapon of last resort is Last Flight of the Phoenix, which should kill everyone around him including his Grogs, leaving only he and Volcanis.

• After Last Flight of the Phoenix, he tries to mount Volcanis and fly away. He can use Bind Wound on himself to allow him to travel while injured. If Volcanis is dead, he throws himself on the mercy of his enemies.

Volcanis in Combat

• Volcanis's fiery breath has no Penetration, so he uses it on knights, archers, and others who are especially dangerous due to armor or range.

• If Igneous loses his shield grog, Volcanis takes that role.

• Volcanis has many Fatigue levels, so he exerts himself on Attacks or Defenses against well-armored or large foes.